Choosing the perfect hospital, at times, can be a matter of life and death. When we choose a hospital, we trust it with our lives to treat us in the most efficient manner. We tend to understand the authenticity of a hospital by its doctors, support staff, its equipemnts and technological advancement, experience of other patients and the first time we enter its premises. The kind of attention and services we receive in the first interaction sets the tone of what we think about the hospital and how much we trust it.
And trust is what Columbia Asia Hospitals has been garnering since it first set it’s foot on the Indian soil. The International private healthcare company, Columbia Asia is owned by a  US-based investment fund: International Columbia USA LLC (ICU).
Columbia Asia Hospitals practices patient-centred care and believes in treating patients like guests. This coupled with advanced technology, modern infrastructure. internationally certified consultants and a host of other qualities make Columbia Asia the preferred destination for international patients.
Dr. Nandakumar Jairam, the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Group Medical Director at Columbia Asia Hospitals gives a detailed view about the Hospital and its services.Â
- Kindly brief us about the hospital and its initial journey.
Columbia Asia hospital is an international private healthcare company founded by an American entrepreneur, Mr. Daniel Baty in 1996. Columbia Asia started in 2004 with one flagship hospital in Hebbal, Bangalore. Thereafter, began a rapid expansion in the country. Today, Columbia Asia operates 11 hospitals in India located in the cities of Bangalore, Mysore, Kolkata, Delhi NCR (Ghaziabad and Gurgaon), Pune and Patiala. Â
- Brief us about the services that the hospital offers.
With 100 to 200 beds per hospital, Columbia Asia provides a wide array of specialist services such as General Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Cardiology, Neurosurgery, Bariatric surgery and super specialist services in Transplantations (Liver, Kidney and Heart), Oncology, Cardiac surgeries, Robotic Surgeries (Urology, Gastroenterology, Gynecology), etc. Some of the hospitals also offer specialized services like pediatric neurodevelopment and DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation). These are appropriately supported by ancillary services that include an Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Care Unit, Physiotherapy, Laboratory, Pharmacy and Imaging. Recent we have added robotic surgery to the bouquet of services offered.
- What are the unique propositions that the centre offers giving it an edge over competitors?
Columbia Asia believe in value for money, accessible and high-quality healthcare, provided with empathy and care. The hospital has highest level of appropriate technology to serve patients and reach out to the insured group of people to provide healthcare services. The hospital primarily directs at middle class India in an ethical fashion and strongly advocate evidence-based practices, transparency and accountability.
- What are the challenges that the hospitals across the country are facing?
Quality and affordability are two major issues, the hospitals across the country are facing. There is also greater need for accountability and transparency in the healthcare sector.Â
- Please share the latest technology that the hospital is utilizing to offer better services to patients.
Our referral hospital at Yeshwanthpur (Bangalore) has recently added Robotic Surgery for Urology, gastroenterology and Gynecology. We also have a new hospital in Pune which will begin operations by end of 2020 or early 2021 and this hospital will have high-end oncology with radiation therapy.
Besides the above, we constantly upgrade our technology, be it IT enabled services, Hospital Facilities management wherein we are already using Wind energy to power the hospital or equipment upgradation at the hospitals to support better patient care.
- How does the hospital intend to handle its Societal Responsibility? Please mention any special charity or program as such.
We engage in different activities involving society and organise free health camps for the general public.
- How is the hospital utilising technology for hospital management?
There has been a shift in technology in every industry, as a healthcare unit, even Columbia Asia has taken a step towards better technological advancements in all the hospitals. We were pioneers in adopting electronic medical record system for patient records. This enables easy retrieval and continuity of care. To keep better track of the patients and their requirements, the hospital has made inroads into artificial intelligence in the field of Radiology. Medical equipment uses AI for direct feeding of data from the point of use in the hospital. The data collected is further processed, which in turn provides visibility of trends and allows the doctors to use predictive analytics to treat high-cost and life-threatening conditions.
- Share with us the hospital’s views and measures taken regarding personalised healthcare.
We believe in an effective and affordable caring environment for our patients, with a passion for making people better. Our expert and highly skilled doctors provide accurate diagnosis and management and along with that we treat our patients as guests giving them maximum comfort with uncompromising clinical governance.
Our care is always patient centric with empathy, individualised attention and highest levels of clinical excellence.
About the CEO:
Dr. Nandakumar Jairam is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Group Medical Director at Columbia Asia Hospitals. He has been associated with Columbia Asia Hospitals since its inception in India from 2004.  He started as the Group Medical Director and was also on the board until 2017. When the board requested him to take the additional responsibility of being CEO, he accepted the same.
Dr Jairam is trained in colorectal and Minimally Invasive Surgery. He has spent time in the UK and the USA. He is an alumnus of Bangalore Medical College, National College, Basavanagudi and Bishop Cottons School, Bangalore, India. He has been an examiner for MBBS and the MS examinations of several Indian Universities and he was also an examiner for DNBE in surgery and inspector for the National Board. He has several papers including publications in the prestigious British journal of Surgery and presentations to his credit.
